Brighter picture at Niagara;

Page 1

Alumni Hall, site of the faculty offices and campus chapel at Niagara University.
A BRIGHTER PICTURE AT NIAGARA
Today, colleges and universities, both public and
private, are beset by serious problems. It is an era
when many, drowning in a sea of red ink, are scram­bling
desperately for state funds. And, in an attempt to
remain attractive to new students, many are giving them
an ever-increasing voice in the operation of such insti­tutions.
But at Niagara University, an institution with deep re­ligious
roots perched atop Mounteagle Ridge overlook­ing
the spectacular Niagara River gorge, the school's
board of trustees made a vital decision. It decided not
to seek state aid under New York State's Bundy Law
(which would have meant possible receipts of $250,000
annually), and also rejected a student body proposal
for coed interdormitory visitation.
Now, somewhat to the surprise of all concerned, the
future of Niagara University appears brighter than it has
for some time.
NU has its highest enrollment in history, received a
record number of contributions during the last fiscal
year, and will have an annual operating surplus for the
first time in four years.
Just over a year ago, in December 1970, Niagara
faced the bleak picture of a projected $2.5 million cumu­lative
fiscal deficit by the ensuing June. At the time,
the prospect of receiving $250,000 or more each year
from New York State must have been attractive, indeed.
Yet, to qualify for this aid, Niagara would have been
compelled to "secularize"—to drop religious training
as a required subject, and show no preference for the
39